U.S. patent number 5,332,182 [Application Number 08/043,693] was granted by the patent office on 1994-07-26 for adjustable leveling foot assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pitney Bowes Inc.. Invention is credited to David A. Demar, Thomas J. Pendleton, Sandor F. Weisz.
United States Patent |
5,332,182 |
Weisz , et al. |
July 26, 1994 |
Adjustable leveling foot assembly
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for adjustably leveling a machine base,
such as a postal scale, wherein the machine base does not have to
be turned over to accomplish the leveling adjustment. The apparatus
includes a threaded support shaft having a non-circular
configuration at one end and a leveling wheel having a threaded
passage capable of receiving and mating with the threaded support
shaft. A retaining structure is capable of retaining the rotational
movement of the threaded support shaft and is capable of
restricting movement of the threaded support shaft relative to the
base.
Inventors: |
Weisz; Sandor F. (Stamford,
CT), Pendleton; Thomas J. (Danbury, CT), Demar; David
A. (Trumbull, CT) |
Assignee: |
Pitney Bowes Inc. (Stamford,
CT)
|
Family
ID: |
21928405 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/043,693 |
Filed: |
April 8, 1993 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/188.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M
7/00 (20130101); G01G 23/002 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F16M
7/00 (20060101); G01G 23/00 (20060101); F16M
011/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;248/188.4,188.2,188.9,649,650 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ramirez; Ramon O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Whisker; Robert H. Scolnick; Melvin
J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for providing adjustable level support for a base,
said apparatus comprising:
a threaded support shaft;
a leveling wheel having a threaded passage for receiving and mating
with said threaded support shaft and having a bearing surface for
supporting said base wherein when said leveling wheel is rotated,
said leveling wheel and said base move in a vertical plane with
respect to said support shaft; and
a retaining means for preventing the rotational movement of said
shaft.
2. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 further comprising:
a spring adapted to receive said shaft therein, said spring
preventing an otherwise excessive rotational movement of said
leveling wheel in a predetermined direction on said shaft.
3. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one end
of the shaft is configured in its periphery with at least one
substantially flat surface.
4. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 or 2, wherein said retaining
means further comprises at least one mounting support and a
retaining plate, said retaining plate receiving one end of said
shaft and fixed to said mounting supports, while preventing
rotation of said shaft and allowing axial movement of said
shaft.
5. Apparatus as specified in claim 4, wherein said mounting support
and said retaining plate are snap-together parts.
6. Apparatus as specified in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a
foot at one end of said threaded support shaft, said foot being
formed of an energy absorbing material.
7. A housing supported by one or more adjustable leveling supports,
said leveling supports comprising:
a threaded support shaft;
a leveling wheel having a threaded passage for receiving and mating
with said threaded support shaft and having a bearing surface for
supporting said housing wherein when said leveling wheel is
rotated, said leveling wheel and said housing move in a vertical
plane with respect to said support shaft; and
a retaining means for preventing the rotational movement of said
shaft.
8. Apparatus as specified in claim 7 further comprising:
a spring adapted to receive said shaft therein, said spring
preventing an otherwise excessive rotational movement of said
leveling wheel in a predetermined direction on said shaft.
9. Apparatus as specified in claim 7 or 8, wherein at least one end
of the shaft is configured in its periphery with at least one
substantially flat surface.
10. Apparatus as specified in claim 7 or 8, wherein said retaining
means further comprises at least one mounting support and a
retaining plate, said retaining plate receiving one end of said
shaft and fixed to said mounting supports, while preventing
rotation of said shaft and allowing axial movement of said
shaft.
11. Apparatus as specified in claim 10, wherein said mounting
support and said retaining plate are snap-together parts.
12. Apparatus as specified in claim 7 or 8, further comprising a
foot at one end of said threaded support shaft, said foot being
formed of an energy absorbing material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an adjustable leveling foot assembly
which is capable of varying support on the underside of a housing.
More particularly, this foot assembly is provided for purposes of
leveling a postal scale.
When placing items, for example envelopes or packages, on top of a
postal scale it is desirable that the weighing platform be level so
as not to encourage slippage or movement of the mailpiece while
atop the platform. Leveling is also desirable in order to provide a
strictly normal force on the postal scale load cell transducer
thereby avoiding errors due to any horizontal components. Often at
the underside of a scale housing is located a plurality of leveling
feet for the purpose of leveling the upper top portion of the
housing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,089 discloses leveling feet which are on
threaded shafts and received at the base of the housing. Typically
when adjusting the feet for leveling in these prior art systems,
the user must turnover the housing to reduce the weight pressure on
the feet in order to turn the feet in the desired direction to
adjust the height of the feet. Adjusting of the feet typically
becomes a trial and error process which can lead to numerous
overturns of the housing until satisfactory leveling is
achieved.
Numerous overturns of the housing being made over time is
detrimental to the electronic circuitry, displays, and the like
which comprise parts of the scale unit. Long-term stability and
accuracy of these parts is reduced.
Assuming adjustment of the feet is sought in this prior art system
without overturning the housing unit, weight pressure will produce
strain on each of the feet rendering it difficult to easily rotate
the feet. Additionally, the access to such feet in order to rotate
is difficult and time-consuming depending upon the relative
location of the feet in proximity to the periphery of the
housing.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
leveling foot assembly which permits the user to easily and quickly
adjust the desired height of each foot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the above object is achieved and the
disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by an apparatus for
providing adjustable level support for a base, the apparatus
comprising a threaded support shaft having a non-circular
configuration at one end, a leveling wheel having a threaded
passage capable of receiving and mating with the threaded support
shaft, a retaining structure capable of retaining the rotational
movement of the threaded support shaft and capable of restricting
movement of the threaded support shaft relative to the base.
Other objects and advantages of the subject invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the
attached drawings and of the detailed description set forth
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of a housing in accordance with the present
invention with a portion broken away to show the adjustable
leveling foot assembly.
FIG. 2 is a partial bottom view of the housing of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In FIG. 2 herein, a bottom view appears of a preferred form of
adjustable leveling assembly 10 as will be seen from the outside of
housing 12. Only the bottom of foot 14 and a portion of the
perimeter of leveling wheel 16 are preferably revealed outside of
the housing. It is contemplated that a plurality of these
assemblies 10 will be used for leveling of housing 12.
Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the relationship between the
components of leveling assembly 10 can be better appreciated.
Formed at the interior base portion of housing 12 are mounting
supports 18 which are used to support retaining plate 20 and into
which screws 22 are received to secure retaining plate 20. Formed
in retaining plate 20 is screw openings 24 which are positioned for
alignment over mounting supports 18 to permit easy access of screws
22 for securing retaining plate 20. Alternatively, it is
contemplated that a snap together assembly of components would be
used for holding retaining plate 20 to the mounting supports 18,
thus eliminating the need for screws 22. Also formed in the
substantially central portion of retaining plate 20 is aperture 28
for receiving therein the keyed end of threaded shaft 30. Aperture
28 is generally circular with a straight edge cut out of the circle
and is dimensioned in order to mate with the keyed end of threaded
shaft 30. Threaded shaft 30 is secured from rotational movement due
to the configuration of the aperture 28 and the keyed end of
threaded shaft 30. It is contemplated that other configurations may
be used for the shape of the aperture 28 or keyed end of shaft 30
such as a star or square shape. Additionally, threaded shaft 30 is
secured from vertical movement through retaining plate 20 by
retaining clip 32. The base portion of threaded shaft 30 is
supported by foot 14 which is preferably of an energy absorbing
material as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,561 to Feinland et al.
Foot 14 may be applied with adhesive to shaft 30 (FIG. 1 and FIG.
3) or foot 14 may alternatively enclose or surround the base
portion of shaft 30.
Housing 12 includes a generally cylindrical sleeve 34 therein to
receive threaded shaft 30. In an alternate embodiment, spring 36 is
placed between shaft 30 and sleeve 34 in order to counter any
downward rotational movement leveling wheel 16. Leveling wheel 16
saddles over sleeve 34 which projects upward in the housing thus
inhibiting horizontal movement of leveling wheel 16 within the
housing. Formed within leveling wheel 16 is a threaded passage 38
for receiving threaded shaft 30. As the leveling wheel 16 is
rotated in a selected or predetermined direction it will move in an
upward or downward direction along the threaded shaft 30 thereby
either lowering or elevating the portion of housing 12 being
supported by leveling assembly 10.
It will be apparent that variations and modifications may be made
in the subject invention and it is therefore intended in the
following claims to cover each such variation and modification as
falls within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *